Brian Kelsey of Shelby County opposes an effort by fellow GOP state Sen. Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains to do away with the partisan primary system for selecting U.S. Senate candidates. Niceley’s bill would grant the state Legislature the authority to pick the nominees. It is supported by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville. Kelsey on the other hand says it’s an “anti-democratic” effort to repeal the 17th Amendment, which he notes was ratified by the state 100 years ago to the day that this speech is delivered: April 1, 1913. “This bill smells of elitism, of cronyism and it would open up a system that was, and could be in the future, rife for corruption,” said Kelsey, the state Senate Judiciary Committee chairman. “It is entirely self-interested of this General Assembly to vote to give itself the power to pick the political party nominees for the United States Senate. It is a bad idea, and I sincerely hope that we don’t pursue it.”